Just a heads up that if you are considering taking the Shetland Island workshop June 17-19, I have just a few slots left. Join Elizabeth Johnston, from Shetland and Martha Owen, artist in residence at JC Campbell Folk Art School for a weekend of Shetland Island Dyeing, Spinning and Knitting. The cost for the weekend is $245 plus materials.

Please join us for an Estonian Island weekend March 27, 28, 29 being offered by The Trading Post for Fiber Arts and being held at The Pendleton Conservation Club in the park in Pendleton.
The cost is $345 plus a materials fee which will be well under $100, probably under $60. Do not have final numbers on that. Please contact Susan at tradingpostfiber@aol.com or call 765-778-3331 or 765-621-9511. Hope you can join us. Should be a very fun weekend. Nancy has visited Estonia a number of times and Kate and I joined her for a two week journey several years ago. It is a magical place! There are sure to be lots of pictures and stories as well as authentic Estonia items to view.

Join Kate Larson and Nancy Bush for a weekend visit to the world of Estonian spinning and knitting. Our days will be focused on creating Gloves, Mittens or Mitts (your choice) which include interesting Estonian cuffs and can be embellished with traditional embroidery motifs from southern Estonia and one of the most traditional islands, Kihnu. Learn how to spin a wool yarn close to what the Estonians use for their base yarn, and then how to spin several wool embroidery yarns for the embellishments. We will use a variety of different wool fibers from Estonia and closer to home.

The course will also cover several Estonian cast ons, some traditional cuff patterns which include colorful lateral braids, and other uniquely Estonian techniques, thumb and finger construction for gloves, as well as mitten and mitt construction, and how to decorate and finish each item. Included in the class will be enough commercial yarn to complete each pattern offered.

Have you heard about Spinzilla? Spinzilla is a spinning competition hosted by the National Needleworkers Association during Spinning and Weaving Week–October 6 – 12.The goal is for each Spinzilla team (up to twenty-five spinners) to spin as many yards of singles as possible in a week’s time. Team members do not need to spin together or even live in the same state. The point of the competition is to help spinners learn, plan projects, and above all, SPIN!

The Trading Post has just registered a team–our first year participating! We would love to have you join our ranks. Skill level isn’t important–this is for fun and the love of our craft. During the competition week, we will gather several times, but you are welcome to join the team even if you can’t gather in person. (Your yardage spun per day is reported to the team captain.)

Interested? Register online here. There is a $10 registration fee, which is a donation to a fiber arts mentorship program. Team member registration is open until September 22, but the teams are filling quickly! Shauna Moore has volunteered to act as team captain for the Trading Post Spinners–thank you, Shauna! If you have questions contact Shauna or Susan. Join us!